Most Americans consume more than 1.5 times the daily recommended cap for sodium – a staggering figure that prompted FDA to draft voluntary guidance earlier this summer for the food and beverage industry to drastically cut sodium levels in their products...
After two years of tracking down documents, updating its supply chain and tweaking its formulas, Sethness Products Company claims “first-mover’s advantage” in the race to provide manufacturers with “cleaner” ingredients by securing Non-GMO Project Verification...
Health Warrior CEO to join CEO panel at Food Vision USA 2016
Chia-fueled brand Health Warrior will be unveiling new products next year that utilize other nutrient-dense whole foods, says CEO Shane Emmett, who is predicting a 40-60% rise in revenues in 2016 “depending on where certain orders land.”
A lot has changed since Abraham and Mahala Stouffer transformed their buttermilk and biscuits stand in 1920s Ohio into a chain of restaurants spanning the rustbelt, which then expanded into one of the first frozen TV dinner giants in the nation by the...
'We’ve said no to every meal kit company that’s approached us'
Powerplant Ventures - a venture fund led by Mark Rampolla (founder, ZICO), Kevin Boylan and T.K. Pillan (co-founders, Veggie Grill) and Dan Beldy (formerly head of Disney’s venture arm) –has closed a $42m fund aimed at “emerging plant-centric companies.”
Consumers increasingly are seeking products that they are simple, with ingredients that they can pronounce, benefits that thy understand and minimal processing, but as a leading Mintel analyst noted at IFT’s Food Expo in Chicago “simple” isn’t always...
The nascent meat bar category is filling up fast, but there is still plenty of room for products that target niche consumers beyond the “Whole Foods Crowd,” according to the CEO of Country Archer, which is one of the latest companies to enter the segment.
Demand for plant proteins continues to rise, and pea protein’s sustainability, non-allergenicity and non-GMO message is edging the ingredient to a tipping point.
Targeting the crossfit, yoga, and barre-enthusiasts (and the like), prepared meal provider Power Supply relies heavily on local chefs and the local fitness community to differentiate itself in the bustling meal subscription category.
After carving out a niche in the competitive baby- and toddler food categories with its quinoa-based products, NurturMe is ready to expand its portfolio and reach with new ingredients, products and distribution with the help of a $3.7 million investment...
The evolution of snacking in America is breaking down barriers that formerly restricted what foods and beverages could be enjoyed at certain times of day, and in doing so is giving manufacturers more creative license to embrace new opportunities for innovation,...
Exclusive Interview: Startup from ex-iTunes producer
Défoncé Chocolatier’s founder and CEO, Eric Eslao, is waiting for the final vote on California's Adult Use Marijuana Act in November. If passed, his cannabis-infused chocolate can be sold in the state for recreational purposes.
What’s the next Just Mayo, KRAVE, or Sparkling ICE? If you’re looking for some entrepreneurs to watch over the next couple of years, check out CircleUp’s 2016 list of the 25 most innovative consumer brands of 2016, 15 of which are in food/beverage.
Finding solutions to reduce sodium, sugar and calories in finished products is essential as regulators and consumers demand healthier products – but the increasing desire for “clean labels” adds a complicating twist to the process of sourcing suitable...
While Americans may increasingly want to cook authentic, ethnic cuisine in their kitchens, most do not have the time track down hard-to-find ingredients or master unfamiliar culinary techniques that are needed to properly prepare a dish from another culture.
Manufacturers reformulating to meet consumers’ growing demand for products without preservatives now have another tool at their disposal following PLT Health Solutions’ and Flavor Solutions, Inc.’s July launch of PhytoShield Flavor Enhancer.
A ring-tailed lemur will be the new ringleader for Madécasse chocolate and vanilla, which will undergo a brand refresh this fall with new packaging designed to make the difficult-to-pronounce company’s products more accessible and memorable.
Are Americans eating more candy? Well they’re certainly spending a bit more – Nielsen data shows US retail dollar sales rose a modest 2.4% in the 52 weeks to May 28, although unit sales were down 1.6%, suggesting shoppers are trading up to more premium...
New research showing the superior function and flavor of eggs compared to replacement ingredients in baked goods is part of a larger effort by The American Egg Board to win back manufacturers that reformulated recipes with fewer eggs during the Avian...
The time consuming process and mess of brewing tea from loose leaves or bags deters many Americans from fully embracing it as a healthy alternative to sugary sodas and juices, but market newcomer Pique Tea, Inc. wants to make the healthy choice the easy...
Premium confections and snacks could find new distribution opportunities in unconventional places as more fashion and design retailers start stocking select on-the-go food and beverages that will help fuel and refresh consumers so they can continue shopping.
Euromonitor International has pinpointed several promising chocolate markets that may help manufacturers offset slowdowns in traditional emerging markets such as China and Brazil.
Meal kit delivery service Chef’d sets itself apart from increasingly stiff competition and advances its mission to “cultivate and curate experiences of love through food” by teaming with the American Diabetes Association to offer easy-to-make dishes designed...
The common belief among new parents that homemade baby food is healthier than store bought options isn’t always true, according to new research published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
“Free from” claims and private-label sales are driving growth in the healthy-ingredient snacks market, and granola and breakfast bars are rising stars in the stagnant breakfast category, says a new report by Packaged Facts.
According to data by Mintel, 41% of surveyed consumers agreed that “packaged snacks from grocery stores are better than items from snack shops,” which means CPG retailers are stiff competition for the foodservice industry when it comes to satiating American's...
Mocktails Beverages now offers its all-natural, ready-to-drink, non-alcoholic cocktails in individual sized bottles to better serve millennials who the company’s president, Bill Gamelli, says are changing their approach to alcohol.
By bucking the emerging trend toward smaller, thinner, portion-controlled snacking chocolate and embracing a distinctively large square format, Durci – a new artisanal line of chocolate from the makers of Crio Bru – quickly secured shelf space in high-end...
A new ‘Made with Pulses’ logo has been unveiled at the IFT show in a bid to help food and beverage manufacturers flag up their use of beans, dry peas, lentils and chickpeas – which are gaining traction as awareness grows of their nutrition and sustainability...
The chocolate industry should explore longer four-year financing projects for cocoa farmers if it is serious about making the cocoa sector sustainable, says certification body Rainforest Alliance (RA).
Uncle Matt’s Organic expands its portfolio beyond juice with the launch of its fruit-infused, cold-pressed probiotic waters, which also continue to blur an already fuzzy line between juice, water and functional beverages.
While backyard barbeques and picnics are hallmarks of prime grilling season, which is in full swing now, marketers can extend grilling’s appeal and their sales beyond the end of summer by tapping into tailgating, suggests new research from Acosta.
US retail sales of plant-based foods & beverages grew 3.4% to $4.9bn in the year to June 12, 2016, with particularly strong growth in cheese alternatives and refrigerated nut milks, according to new data from SPINS.
Consumers’ increasing demand for healthier options is reshaping the competitive landscape across categories – including indulgent ones such as chocolate, where they increasingly want darker chocolate, nutritious inclusions, and new formats that help them...
It's too early to assess its impact on sales, but one food & beverage design guru says Kashi's 'disruptive' new look is just what the Kellogg-owned brand needs.
The US House of Representatives has voted to pass a federal GMO labeling bill (306:117 votes) that would pre-empt and nullify all state-led GMO labeling laws including the one that has just come into effect in Vermont.
Athletes and health conscious consumers who for years have endured the strong taste and off-putting texture of wheatgrass and the mess that comes with juicing it as a tradeoff for its nutrient density no longer have to make these sacrifices thanks to...
New data from Nielsen reveals that private label’s dollar share of the US CPG market has hovered stubbornly below 18% since 2011 before declining very slightly in the latest 52 weeks, while a breakdown of purchasing habits by ethnic group reveals that...
With 28 US states now allowing farmers to grow industrial hemp – a crop that stubbornly remains on the DEA’s controlled substances list although it has no psychoactive effects – it is only a matter of time before the federal ban on its cultivation is...
Food safety incidents, including contamination of food-borne illnesses, mold and adulteration, increased double-digits in several major food categories in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the prior year, according to data pulled from the global web-based...
US retail sales of non-dairy ice cream surged 43.7% to $75.2m in the year to May 28, as more consumers enjoyed almond and coconut-based products in addition to dairy, while frozen custard has also generated significant growth (+134%) over the same period,...
The results are in: We asked FoodNavigator readers what Brexit means for them and their business. Nearly 300 responded - and almost one third said they are now considering relocating their business outside of the UK.
As a plant-based diet becomes more on trend, analysts from Innova Market Insights reveal “new opportunities to target vegans, vegetarians, non-meat eaters, and non red-meat eaters.”
Brexit could help UK businesses realize there are opportunities outside of Europe – but it could also result in complications, uncertainty and slowed growth for the beverage sector.
While big ‘legacy’ food and beverage brands are laser focused on price, promotion and placement, no amount of financial or merchandising wizardry can mask the fact that smaller, sexier, more disruptive, brands are outpacing them. But should CPG’s biggest...